17^th Annual Purple Heart Ceremony

As I arrived at the Citrus County Auditorium, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and gratitude. It was the day of the Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart’s Seventeenth Annual Purple Heart Ceremony, and I was honored to be in attendance once again.

There was a high presence and participation of Citrus County Schools, its students, educators, and leaders. The students from over 23 schools had made presentations board that lined the walls of the auditorium, honoring our veterans. The displays were beautifully crafted and showed a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by our service members.

What’s more, students and educators from each of the schools were present at the ceremony, including those from our eSchool and the Academy of Environmental Sciences. It was heartening to see young people engaged and involved in such an important event, and it spoke volumes about the values of our community.

The ceremony began with the Lecanto High School Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps presenting the Colors that opened the ceremony, and the Nature Coast Community Band, under the direction of Kathy Thompson, playing the National Anthem. Then, the list of names of fallen heroes was read out loud. I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion thinking about the families of these fallen heroes and the sacrifice they had made for our country. It was a poignant reminder of the high price of freedom.

During the event was a special tribute to Richard “Bud” Allen, a US Marine Corps veteran who had passed away. Bud had served proudly in Vietnam with the Marine Corps and was a committed member of Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart. He had left a lasting impact on the community, and his presence was deeply missed.

I would like to express my gratitude to Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart for organizing this event, the Citrus County Chronicle for their support of the Seventeenth Annual Purple Heart Ceremony, and to The Nature Coast Community Band, directed by Kathy Thompson, for their beautiful performance of the National Anthem. I would also like to thank the Citrus County Fair Auditorium for hosting the event, as well as Citrus Detachment 819 Marine Corps League for their support. Special thanks go to the Citrus County School District and Darrick Buettner, Lecanto AJROTC, the elected officials, veterans, and citizens of Citrus County for their participation and contributions to this important event. Their dedication and commitment to honoring our combat veterans are deeply appreciated.

For additional photos visit: https://bit.ly/3E0iZVc

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2023 Citrus Regional Science & Engineering Awards

Last night’s Citrus County Regional Science and Engineering Fair Awards Ceremony was an electrifying event held at the magnificent Curtis Peterson Auditorium! The audience was in for a treat as the Junior and Senior Division Category awards were bestowed upon some of the brightest and most talented students in the county.

But that was just the beginning, as the night also saw the presentation of the highly coveted specialty awards and prizes, including Tim Herndon Innovating the Future, Emily Densmore Award, Keep Citrus County Beautiful Science Award, and the Ronald J. Worthington Award which included a $1,000 price from Citrus Oral & Facial Surgery through CCEF. These awards were a testament to the incredible achievements and innovations of the students in the science and engineering field. But the night wasn’t over yet! Lecanto High School also made their mark, taking home the coveted Senior Division Award and Crystal River Middle School the Junior Division. These awards were a testament to the incredible achievements and innovations of the students in the science and engineering field.

And the highlight of the night? The guest speaker, Holly Van Sicklen! This brilliant young woman is a shining example of what can be accomplished with hard work and determination. She attended Crystal River Middle School and Crystal River High School before earning her degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Florida. Today, she is one of only nine candidates who have passed the first senior reactor operator license exam for the new nuclear power plants. She has served as a shift manager and shift supervisor, and even represented the United States at the 2019 World Nuclear Association Summer Institute in Romania and Switzerland! Miss Van Sicklen is now proudly serving as the Licensing Manager at the Crystal River Nuclear plant.

We cannot express enough gratitude to the Citrus County Education Foundation and their event partner, Citrus Oral & Facial Surgery, for their unwavering support and generosity in making this event possible. Their contributions created an unforgettable evening, allowing these talented students to shine and receive the recognition they so rightfully deserve.

Congratulations to all the winners and a big round of applause to the Citrus County Education Foundation and Citrus Oral & Facial Surgery for their outstanding support. Keep on innovating, Citrus County!

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Ten Years of One-to-One Technology in Citrus County Schools: A Story of Commitment and Success

Popular estimates suggest that 65 percent of children entering grade school today will work in jobs that don’t even exist yet.

These images are from a 2013 School Board workshop meeting at Citrus Springs Middle School. CSMS was the site of the first one-to-one pilot.

Ten years ago, Citrus County Schools embarked on a journey to integrate technology into the classroom by implementing a one-to-one initiative, providing each student with a school device. Today, that commitment has paid off as 100% of all students now have a school-issued device. This forward-thinking approach to technology in education has not gone unnoticed, as the United States Department of Education, Florida Education Commissioner, and others have praised Citrus County for ensuring that technology is transforming teaching and learning.

This dedication to technology education has far-reaching benefits for students, as popular estimates suggest that 65 percent of children entering grade school today will work in jobs that don’t even exist yet. By providing students with exposure to the latest technology and the skills to use it, Citrus County is ensuring that its students are prepared for success in their post-high school careers and schooling.

Citrus County’s leadership in technology education was recognized in November 2014 by the United States Department of Education recognized the success of Citrus County Schools, stating that the district was “earning high marks from state officials, students, and teachers for ensuring that technology is actually transforming teaching and learning.” In August 2016, then Florida Educational Commissioner Pam Stewart praised the district for its dedication to digital learning. “What you’re going to do today (in Citrus County Schools), in regards to digital learning, is really incredible, and I can tell you, it’s probably not happening across the state in very many places,” she said.

The district’s commitment to technology education was put to the test in March 2020, when Florida Governor DeSantis and then Florida Department of Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran asked all schools to immediately develop an Instructional Remote Learning Plan due to the pandemic. While other districts struggled to provide students with devices and the necessary technology to continue learning, Citrus County was able to quickly transition to distance learning because nearly every student already had a school-issued device.

Citrus County Schools Director of Technology Kathy Androski, who was a teacher in the initial one-to-one pilot, reflects on the progress made in the last ten years. “If you would have told me ten years ago when I was one of the teachers of the 1:1 pilot that I would become the director of technology for the district, I would have never believed it. I truly LOVED what I was doing and had such an amazing team of educators and leaders I was working with. We supported one another through all of the trials and tribulations and formed a think tank group. Innovation occurred and as we refined our craft, we found that we could be both creative and standards-based for student success.”

This success truly been a collaborative effort and would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the many individuals involved in the one-to-one technology initiative This has truly been a collaborative effort, including Kathy Androski (current Director of Technology), Dan Koch (now Professional Learning Senior Specialist for Apple), April Barker, Principals David Roland and Vicki Lofton, Superintendent of Schools Sandra “Sam” Himmel, past and current School Boards, Assistant Superintendents Mike Mullen, Retired Executive Director of Curriculum Mark Klauder, Retired Director of Curriculum Technology Dr. Michael Geddes, former District Curriculum Technology Specialists Jim Kelley, Matt Biggs, and Jerry Swiatek, former Title 1 Tech Shaunda Burdette, former District Education Technology Coaches Lisa Paprzycki, Brennan McNally, Mary Leonard and Megan Spelich, current District Education Technology Eileen Jenkin and Ashley Kurutz, Coordinators of Technology Lance Fletcher, all the other numerous other technology aides and specialists, classroom teachers, principals, administrators, educators, parents, and, of course, the amazing students. (I am so sorry if I have forgotten anyone.)

As we look ahead to the future, it is clear that technology will play a crucial role in shaping the careers of today’s students. With its commitment to technology, Citrus County Schools is ensuring that its students have the skills and exposure they need to succeed in this rapidly changing world.

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